Inara tore one of her paw pads pretty well this afternoon. It wasn't bleeding at all, just a decent layer of pad is torn. It was dangling but was too tender for me to try to cut off at that point. I put some Neosporin on it, then a piece of gauze, covered it in vetwrap and then placed a baby sock over it all. She's actually leaving it alone and it's not falling off! Anyway, how long should I keep it wrapped up before changing it or letting it just air out?

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

Awesome, thanks Jen! Hopefully I can cut off the flap of skin tomorrow - it has to hurt when it catches on something.

Thanks for the good thoughts, Missy!

It really hasn't seemed to bother her since I wrapped it. She was running around and suddenly started limping really badly. I was afraid she'd torn a ligament or muscle or something, so I was glad it was "just" a paw pad. But since it's been wrapped she's only had a very slight limp.

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

if you have booties you may want to put a booty on it when you walk her so the skin has a chance to heal...

I agree with Jen, its better to have it "breathing" whenever possible...

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
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"You didn't know of the magical powers of the break stick? It's up there with genies and Harry Potter as far as magic levels go." SisMorphine 01/07/07

She was very excited when I removed the bandage this morning and immediately settled down to lick and nibble on it. I do have fleece booties - should I put one on her so she can't reach it, or is it okay to let her handle it on her own? I did put a bootie on when I took her outside - I figured grass poking it may hurt a lot.

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

I generally let the dogs govern their own pain level on minor injuries, as long as they aren't bleeding. If they're really limping and don't monitor themselves, they get crate rest. I don't use booties, mainly because none of mine like them and tear them right off.

Never make someone a priority in your life when that someone treats you like an option.

Looks the same as yesterday. There were a couple drops of blood on the bandage when I took it off, and she wouldn't let me clip the extra skin. It doesn't look swollen or icky or oozing or anything. It's the main pad on her right front foot. She wasn't limping much this morning so I'll just let her deal with it. I did give her a baby aspirin with her breakfast (also gave her a couple when we first got home yesterday).

Damned paw pads!

"Remember - every time your dog gets somewhere on a tight leash *a fairy dies and it's all your fault.* Think of the fairies." http://www.positivepetzine.com"

Let it dry out, then see how it looks. Inara may chew off the extra skin herself -- Shorty does that and she's always tearing her pads. If she REALLY goes at it and won't leave it alone and it starts to bleed more consistently, then you may want to bandage it up for another day or put an e-collar on her.

Other than that, just keep her off harsh surfaces today and see how she does.

Never make someone a priority in your life when that someone treats you like an option.